Interstitial cystitis, or IC — also known as painful bladder syndrome — is a chronic inflammation of your bladder wall. IC causes chronic pain in your pelvic area, pain when urinating, and a sense of urinary urgency and frequency.

Milk has many vital health benefits for both children and adults. Among its nine essential nutrients, milk provides calcium and vitamin D for strong bones and teeth, protein for energy and muscle repair, vitamin B12 for healthy red blood cells and nerve tissue and niacin for effective metabolism.

The trendy beverage with a "floating mushroom" has been making the American celebrity rounds, according to Michele Berman, M.D., but it's been used in other parts of the world for centuries. Kombucha tea, a fermented mixture of sugar, bacteria and yeast, has many reputed medicinal uses and general health benefits.

Chamomile tea is known to have healing properties and for many centuries it has been used as an elixir to cure a number of ailments, such as insomnia, back pain and anxiety. It's most common use, however, is as a muscle relaxer.

When it comes to healthy beverages, low-fat milk is one of your best options. Soda is high in calories and sugar but provides you with no nutrients. Drinking it regularly can lead to weight gain and diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you’ve gone on a diet, you may have tried switching to diet soda because it has fewer calories. Diabetics will sometimes drink diet soda because it’s made with sweeteners rather than sugar. Just because diet soda doesn’t contain real sugar and has fewer calories, it doesn’t make it healthy.

Enjoying an alcoholic beverage now and then can drastically increase your caloric intake if you don't monitor what you're drinking. Several low-calorie alcoholic beverages are available to choose from, and some types of alcoholic drinks might have beneficial effects on your health.

Loose bowels can throw a wrench in your plans, keeping you on the toilet when you should be working or having fun with friends and family. If you have a condition such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease or fructose malabsorption, fruit juices like grapefruit and orange could cause digestive upset.

Cranberries are a tart fruit with a subtly sweet taste. Additionally, they are full of antioxidants that help prevent cancer and contain proanthocyanidins, which help combat bacteria associated with urinary tract infections.

Whether you are dieting for weight loss or eating to maintain a healthy weight, it is worth paying attention to the calories and nutrients you drink as well as those you eat. Calorie-laden beverages such as full-fat dairy drinks and sugary sodas can contribute a significant number of calories to your daily total.

Adding milk to your meal plan is a tasty way to meet your calcium needs, but if you're choosing 2 percent milk, you might not be making the best choice for weight loss. Low-fat dairy, which includes 2 percent and 1 percent milk, is a healthy alternative to sodas, juice drinks with added sugars and whole milk.

Making your own fruit sauce is a perfect way to use up excess fruit from the garden. Fruit sauces can be poured over desserts, such as cakes or ice cream; thickened up to make jam; or drizzled over meat dishes. For example, pour pineapple fruit sauce over baked ham or pork.